So instead I have a target savings rate, and while I don't live on a strict budget I keep my eye on it that I'm close enough over time.
Would you mind sharing what changed? This is actually something I've been thinking about lately. I'm trying to plan out the type of lifestyle that I'd ideally like to have while also estimating how much it would cost me. This way, I don't get needlessly tempted by chasing ever higher and higher salaries.
The first example that comes to mind would be there are restaurants I enjoyed that were a once in a year treat kind of place at the time. Now I go to those sorts of places multiple times a month. At some point I realized I could afford to do so, and I enjoy those places more, so why not? And then at some point they shifted to being among the default options when we think to go out for dinner.
There is no reason why you can't enjoy things if you make more money, but increase your savings and investing rate by an equal or greater % as your salary goes up.
If you do not have a savings or investing rate, the next time your salary goes up, if you think it will, take 50% of that and put it into savings and investments. Treat your salary increase as a 50% increase.